Sofia (Bulgaria): Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov has urged Spanish club FC Barcelona’s midfielder Pedro Rodriguez against signing a deal with Manchester United, saying its manager Louis Van Gaal is destroying the English club.
Pedro, whose first team opportunities at Barcelona has been restricted due to the brilliant form of the attacking trio comprising Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, is expected to make a move to Manchester. Stoichkov is regarded as one of the best players of his generation and is widely considered the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Stoichkov played five years for Barcelona from 1990 to 1995, scoring 77 goals in 149 appearances. Van Gaal has coached Barcelona twice in the past. He said Van Gaal had a negative influence on the Barcelona squad during his time with the Catalan giants during 1997-2000 and 2002-30 and is continuing in the same vein at United. “I would never be under the orders of Van Gaal,” Stoichkov was quoted as saying by goal.com on Tuesday. “He’s mediocre. He destroyed Barcelona and is destroying Manchester United,” the 49-year-old said. “With what he has done to (Victor) Valdes he has shown he is a bad person. Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn’t leave.”
